| n contrast with the hunger and scarcity we encounter throughout the world and in our own communities, today's liturgy celebrates abundance.
The feeding of hungry crowds in both the first reading and the Gospel are messianic signs of the presence of God. It is interesting that in the Gospel, Jesus knew just what he was going to do. Characteristic of the secrecy with which Mark writes about Christ's messianic mission, Jesus keeps the apostles in suspense. Mark recounts the feeding of the multitude to give further evidence that Jesus is the Messiah.
There are two lessons we can learn from the readings.
First of all, God never runs out of good things for God's people. In God, there is a superabundance: of forgiveness, of unconditional love, in opportunities for salvation, in predilection for the poor.
Secondly, we who share in the ministry of Christ have no need to be stingy. We do not hoard our time, energy our resources. If we are sharing from our own personal storerooms – it is inevitable that we will eventually reach the bottom of the barrel. But if we are sharing from our own awareness of our poverty and limitation, then we have access to a superabundant stockpile with which God's Spirit continues to gift us.
God blesses our country with abundance of produce. However, what we are committed to are dominance, greed and subservience to a distorted commerce. We squander what abundance we have. And the hungry of the world is not served.
On the other hand, we could practice, in our international relations and our response to the needs of our own communities, a political agenda that reflects the sentiments of the Second Reading – unity of spirit through a bond of peace. With open arms and open hearts there would never be another child in the world to go to bed hungry.
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